come back poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come back poorly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone returns from an experience or task with unsatisfactory results or performance. Example: "After the project was completed, the feedback from the client indicated that the team had come back poorly in terms of meeting expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Every hand that has been X-rayed has come back poorly," Girardi said.

The New York Times - Sports

State what will happen in the event that test results come back poorly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He came back ill ….

Global Health Action

If you go back to eating poorly or treating your body poorly, the issues will come back because it's in your genes and we can't change your genetic code.

HuffPost

We opened the game very poorly but showed courage to come back and I'm proud of the second half; we really put them under pressure.

BBC

When the next adult reacts poorly, this young person can come back to you for guidance and support.

Huffington Post

As it turned out, from this double disappointment of playing poorly and wasting the chances to come back, Arsenal reacted with great spirit.

The Guardian - Sport

They come back to this society, which is both very dull and very poorly connected, and they just miss it.

HuffPost

Do not publish things that are poorly thought out or hastily composed it might come back to haunt you!

WikiHow

Westchester came in with seven consecutive victories, but the Comets played so poorly in the first half that they had no chance to come back.

Los Angeles Times

But if he had been treated poorly when he left then he would not have felt able to come back.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "come back poorly", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is returning from and what specific aspects of the return are considered poor. For example: "The company's reputation came back poorly after the scandal."

Common error

Avoid using "come back poorly" when the intention is to describe a general failure to return, rather than a specific unsatisfactory condition upon return. For instance, instead of "he came back poorly", consider "he did not return" or "he returned in worse condition" if the primary issue is his absence or his deteriorated condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come back poorly" functions as a verb phrase, where "come back" is the verb indicating a return, and "poorly" is an adverb modifying the verb, describing the manner of the return. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, albeit noting its relative infrequency.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come back poorly" is grammatically sound but relatively rare. It describes a return characterized by unsatisfactory results or performance. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While "come back poorly" appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts, its usage spans various domains. For more common alternatives, consider phrases like "return unsuccessfully" or "reappear in bad shape" to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

return unsuccessfully

Focuses on the lack of success upon returning.

reappear in bad shape

Emphasizes the deteriorated condition upon returning.

come back worse for wear

Highlights the negative impact of the experience on the return.

return with disappointing results

Focuses on the disappointing nature of the results obtained upon returning.

come back empty-handed

Emphasizes the lack of any positive outcome upon returning.

reemerge in a weakened state

Focuses on the physical or metaphorical weakening upon returning.

come back defeated

Highlights the feeling of defeat associated with the return.

return with no improvement

Focuses on the lack of progress or betterment upon returning.

come back unsuccessful

Indicates a lack of success upon returning.

return in a worse condition

Expresses that condition on the return is worse

FAQs

How can I use "come back poorly" in a sentence?

Use "come back poorly" to describe a return that is marked by unsatisfactory results or performance, such as "The team "came back poorly" after their defeat".

What are some alternatives to "come back poorly"?

You can use alternatives like "return unsuccessfully", "reappear in bad shape", or "return with disappointing results" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "come back poorly" grammatically correct?

Yes, "come back poorly" is grammatically correct. However, it's relatively uncommon. Consider whether more common alternatives might better suit your writing style.

When is it best to use "come back poorly" instead of other similar phrases?

Use "come back poorly" when you want to specifically emphasize that the return was characterized by a substandard or undesirable condition. It's more specific than simply saying something "failed to return".